From Learning to Leading: Connections Crew in Action

Connections asks students to learn about belonging, soft leadership, teamwork, allyship, and antiracism—and then put those ideas into practice for their peers.

This past summer, three students who had completed the program’s learning stage chose to do their service learning as group leads (Crew leads) in the Connections track at ULMS Summer University.

They were there to help other students feel included while developing their own skills as leaders.

Working with Youth Engagement Coordinator Amber Inwood, the Crew leads prepared activities, welcomed participants, facilitated games and conversations, and helped small groups explore local museums and other community spaces. They took turns planning and leading field-trip travel while Amber provided adult supervision.

Their roles grew with their strengths: one became comfortable facilitating the whole group, while others contributed through logistics, listening, and attentive support for students who needed help participating.

All three completed their service-learning hours. Amber has since seen summer participants approach the Crew leads in school hallways, suggesting that the relationships they helped build continued after the program ended.

That is the heart of Connections’ learning and doing approach: students practice leadership by noticing who might be left out, bringing people together, and helping their peers feel they belong.